Michigan News
John Quackenbush has been appointed by Gov. Snyder to serve as chair of the three-member Michigan Public Service Commission. Quackenbush, of New Buffalo, has worked for UBS Global Asset Management for 10 years, most recently as a managing director and senior investment analyst responsible for equity research of the transportation, utilities and coal industries.
Quackenbush earned a bachelor’s in business economics from Calvin College and a master’s in finance from MSU. Quackenbush will serve a six-year term expiring July 2, 2017, and replaces Monica Martinez.
ArtPrize 2011 in Grand Rapids has 1,582 entries in 164 stores, restaurants, museums and public parks. Students from City High School in Grand Rapids and Black River Public School in Holland helped Rich VanderVeen paint and install “Win, Win, Wind!” a 32-foot-tall, Michigan-made wind turbine blade at Grand Valley State University’s campus downtown. The event which includes public voting goes to Oct. 9. http://winwinwind.org/
Google found SolarYpsi by searching the Internet and called the Ypsi Food Coop to learn more about it. They were looking for cool projects. During the summer, they visited for three days and filmed the solar installations around town. http://www.concentratemedia.com/videos/solarypsi20165.aspx?utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=SolarYpsi%2c+Take+Two&utm_content=%7bEmail_Address%7d&utm_campaign=Might+As+Well+Jump
DTE Energy will buy 125,000 White Tag energy optimization credits from qualifying large commercial and industrial customers who can demonstrate measured energy savings. The pilot is being administered by Atlanta-based energy marketer Sterling Planet who will measure and validate the energy savings, and then provide the resultant White Tags to DTE. The company will use the credits to help comply with Michigan energy efficiency mandates. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/09/19/dte-offers-energy-credits-to-business-customers-seeks-efficiency-rfps/
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program is expected to be supported by Ann Arbor City Council on Oct. 3. The PACE program will provide financing for energy projects in commercial and industrial properties and use special assessments on property. Eligible projects can range in size from $10,000 to $350,000. State legislation in 2010 authorized these programs and Ann Arbor will be the first city in the state to officially enact one. A report on Ann Arbor’s proposed PACE program is available at www.a2energy.org. To learn more or to inquire about creating a PACE program in your city, visit http://cec-mi.org/communities/programs/ann-arbor-pace/.
Michigan Department of Transportation is replacing more than 200 high pressure sodium roadway fixtures near Detroit Metro Airport. MDOT selected EverLast induction cobra head fixtures from Jackson-based Full Spectrum Solutions as energy efficient replacements. EverLast induction lights reduce energy by 50 to 70% and last up to 100,000 hours. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/09/13/mdot-installs-energy-efficient-induction-roadway-lights-along-i-94/
Energy Works Michigan released its final report to the Michigan Public Service Commission summarizing the first two years of the Michigan Renewable Schools Program. Schools installed 35 solar and wind systems totaling 250 kW. Thirty-nine schools participating in the Energy Efficiency Program invested $4 million in their facilities and will save over $10 million in energy costs. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/09/08/energy-works-michigan-reports-10m-energy-savings-for-k-12-schools/
University of Michigan has secured a $1 million federal grant to study the impact of ice and other factors on offshore wind turbines. One project will develop a computer model to determinine the effect of surface ice on offshore wind turbines, while another seeks to gauge the impact of freshwater ice formation on proposed wind farms in the Great Lakes.
Michigan Consumers would save $9 billion on their energy bills from 2010-2030, have more job opportunities, and breathe healthier air if our state adopted stronger clean energy standards, according to a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The report analyzes the potential impact of a two-pronged clean energy strategy developed in 2009 by the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) to help revitalize the region’s economy. First, the MGA suggested Midwestern states require that 30% of each state’s electric supply come from renewable energy sources by 2030. Second, it called for states to deploy energy efficiency to save 2% in annual power consumption by 2015, with an additional 2% savings each following year. http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.html
Solar Energy Middle School Curriculum has been developed by Dow Corning in partnership with Earth Day Network, American Chemistry Society and National Education Association. The curriculum consists of four comprehensive lesson plans designed to cover two or three class periods. http://www.solardecathlon.gov/curriculum.html?wt.svl=solardecatlonlinkbutton
USDA REAP Energy Grants have been awarded to 34 Michigan farmers and rural small businesses. The $503,848 will provide 25% of the cost of a variety of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. Simpsons Brothers Greenhouses in Ovid will receive an $18,000 grant to install greenhouse energy curtains that will reduce energy purchases by 42% and save more than $12,000 in annual energy. In Jackson, Lindale Farms was selected to receive a $6,000 grant for a 4.3 kW PV solar system that will produce about 5,000 kWh’s annually. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Energy.html
Consumers Energy has selected SmartSynch to provide the advanced metering system for its 1.8 million electric customers. The smart meters will use the existing cellular network. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/09/26/consumers-energy-to-roll-out-1-8-million-smart-meters/
$16.5 Million in grants has been awarded by DOE to four Michigan organizations for solar energy projects that accelerate research and development. Michigan came in third of all the states in terms of the total amount awarded. Cascade Engineering received $602,623 for a racking system for commercial rooftops. Raymond Tinnerman Manufacturing was awarded $1.67 million for a bracket system for commercial rooftop installations. Dow Chemical received $12.8 million for a building-integrated PV application. University of Michigan was awarded $1.5 million for the next generation of organic PV technology. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/sunshot_awards_bycategory_2011_09_01.pdf
Beyond Michigan
Self-Inflating Tire is being developed by Goodyear. All components including a miniaturized pump will be fully contained within the tire. Goodyear has received a $1.5 million DOE grant to launch a demonstration of the tires in commercial trucks. Underinflated tires cause a 2.5-3.3% decrease in efficiency.
Google obtained 25% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2010, and predicts the amount will reach 30% this year and 35% in 2012, according to the company’s annual report on energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions.
Installed Cost of residential and commercial PV systems in 2010 fell by 17% from the year before, and by an additional 11% within the first six months of 2011 according to the latest annual PV cost report released by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The report indicates that non-module costs – such as installation labor, marketing, overhead, inverters, and the balance of systems – also fell for residential and commercial PV systems in 2010 by 18%. http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/emp/re-pubs.html
Events
MPSC Consumer Forums will be held in Lansing (10/27), Hamtramck (11/2), Grand Haven (11/3), and Ypsilanti (11/8). http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,4639,7-159-16400_17280-261317–,00.html
Michigan Sustainable Homes and Business Tour will take place Saturday, October 1st, from 10am – 4pm. This is a great opportunity to talk to homeowners who have experience with solar and other sustainable building practices. www.glrea.org
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light (Michigan IPL) in partnership with Aquinas College – Center for Sustainability proudly announce “Leaps of Faith – Moving Sustainability forward in houses of worship”. This one day conference, October 5, at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids will inform and educate congregations, students, and the public. Jen Alvarado, GLREA, and Julie Baldwin, MPSC, will do a session on state renewable energy policy. Dr. Andy Hoffman, world-recognized leader in sustainability from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, will be the keynote speaker and sessions will include topics on energy efficiency, faith education, public policy, business sustainability and ‘hands on’. http://www.miipl.org/conference/
Michigan Women of Wind Energy (WOWE) will meet on October 5, 6:00 pm at Stork Climax Research Services in Wixom. Look forward to an expert panel discussion on Building a Wind Farm.
LEED 205 – Demystifying LEED for Homes will be held in East Lansing on Oct 10th and Detroit on Oct 12th. Ann Arbor – TBA (2nd or 3rd week of Oct) and Flint – TBA (2nd or 3rd week of Oct). 2.0 CEU GBCI http://www.alliancees.org/education-and-events/
Program Training and recruitment event for commercial energy auditors and installation contractors for Michigan Saves Commercial Program in Detroit will be held on October 13, 9:00-12:00. www.michigansaves.org
US Green Building Council Detroit Regional Chapter will hold its General Membership Meeting at Greenblendz, Inc. in Auburn Hills on October 13, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Register by Oct 11 at www.drc-usgbc.org.
Introduction to LEED for Homes is a free lunch time webinar on Oct. 13, 1 pm Eastern time. Approved for 1.0 hour for AIA/CES Sustainable Design www.alliancees.org/education-and-events/event/free-webinar-introduction-to-leed-for-homes/
Great Lakes Bioneers Conference will be held on Oct 14-16 in Traverse City, http://www.glbconference.org/ and Detroit http://www.glbd.org/
“How to Get a Green Energy Job” workshop will be held at Michigan Energy Options, 405 Grove St. in E. Lansing on Tuesday, October 18, 7:00-8:30 pm. John Sarver will provide an overview of green energy job opportunities and how to find and get a green energy job. There is a $10 fee to attend. To register contact Becky Jo at bfarrington@michiganenergyoptions.org or 517-337-0422 ext 1303.
The Battery Show on Oct. 25-27 will feature up to 160 exhibits on electric vehicles, utility storage and more at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. This business-to-business experience will enable companies and entrepreneurs to see firsthand the latest power solutions for automotive, alternative energy and mobile power applications.http://www.thebatteryshow.com/register?NRDONE=1
USGBC Workshop: Homes 252 Understanding the LEED for Homes Rating System will be held on Nov. 7th, 8:30 am – 5 PM in Detroit. http://www.alliancees.org/education-and-events/
International Conference on Sustainability, Transition, and Culture Change will be held at Shanty Creek Resorts, Bellaire on Nov 10-14. http://sustainabilityconference.org/apply.
Click here to be introduced to GLREA
Source/Prepared by: John Sarver for Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)
